Palliative care is the treatment of symptoms where cure is no longer considered an option, usually when the patient is dying. Some people may live for many years with an incurable disease, and lead a life of good quality with effective palliative care.
It focuses on controlling pain and other symptoms, improving quality of life for the patient and their family, and meeting social, emotional and spiritual needs.
Hospices, good medical and nursing care, company, therapy and counselling can all help make terminally ill patients comfortable, provide them with company and relieve any suffering or pain.
Most people have heard of palliative care in cancer where it is well developed. A number of organisations work with the NHS to provide palliative care. For example, the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity trains nurses and care assistants to provide palliative care for people at home.
Macmillan Cancer Support provides specialist care from health and social care professionals, supporting people physically and emotionally. It also provides practical, emotional and financial support, as well as helping people affected by cancer to help themselves through support groups and special programmes.
But palliative care can also help promote quality of life in those with other progressive degenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and advanced kidney disease.
You can read more about palliative care in the NHS inform palliative care zone.
Last updated: 20 April 2012